Texas Frightmare Weekend Mastermind Loyd Cryer
Written
on 5/2/08 by Donny Broussard
Texas Frightmare Weekend is an awesome horror convention that pulls out all the stops and brings horror fans the best in horror entertainment. The guests are superstars, the screenings are killer, and the parties ROCK! When I got the chance to pick convention director Loyd Cryer's brain I was extremely excited. To check out what the man himself had to say just keep reading.
Donny: Did you grow up a huge horror fan?
Loyd: Of course! In fact, my mom used to take me to all the horror flix that were playing at our local drive in. The first film I ever remember seeing was The Exorcist when I was about 4 years old. She took me to see just about everything a mother should NOT take her child to see. And, I thank her from the bottom of my heart for doing it!
Donny: Tell us how Texas Frightmare Weekend came to be?
Loyd: Basically, from the total lack of any kind of genre gatherings in the Dallas area (not to mention just about the entire southern US). There was absolutely nothing for horror fans to go to as an outlet for our love of horror before our first show in February 2006. You would have to fly out to the east or west coast to go to a horror convention.
Donny: Was it difficult trying to gather up so many genre greats into one place?
Loyd: Yes, it's amazingly difficult. But, it's also totally worth it. I think we have the largest "DEAD" reunion that's ever been attempted. If I'm wrong, feel free to let me know!
Donny: This year at TFW you have some killer guests, two of my personal favorites are Cassandra Peterson (Elvira) and George Romero, do you still get butterflies when working with genre legends like them?
Loyd: Sure, these people are legends that we all grew up idolizing. Typically, I'm fine throughout the planning, organizing and all the other details leading up to the event. But, when it's the first day of the show and you're meeting Romero face to face,it's still a mind numbing experience. But, they are regular people just like us. Romero actually asked my permission to take a break last year! I was like, "You are George Romero, you can do ANYTHING you want to!"
Donny: What are some of your favorite horror films?
Loyd: The Exorcist tops my list because it still frightens me to this day. I love all of Romero's films, The Evil Dead series, I like alot of eurotrash (D'Amato is my favorite), From Dusk til Dawn,
Donny: For some of our readers that might not have attended TFW before, how would you describe the CON?
Loyd: It's a massive party! It's time to have fun, forget about the daily hassles that life throws us and time to completely indulge in what we all love so much...HORROR!
Donny: Last year at the con I really enjoyed the VIP party as well as the screenings, are there any other new events that attendees can expect this year that are different from previous year?
Loyd: Something new that we are introducing for 2008 is a live filmmaker commentary. This year, we're screening "Chopping Mall" and turning down the volume so that directo Jim Wynorski and star Kelli Maroney can talk about the film, live before the audience!
Donny: The torture sub-genre is pretty much over and the asian remake trend seems to by slowing down, so as someone who is surrounded by the world of horror what do you think the next big trend in horror cinema?
Loyd: Man, it's hard to say. I would LIKE to say that the next big trend will be that studios will fund filmmakers that have original ideas for movies! Wouldn't that be great??!! Imagine, going to a theater and watching a movie that is not a remake, a rehash, a sequel or an homage? I would like to see something completely original for a change.
Loyd is a great guy and runs a killer CON so make sure to mark your calendar! Loyd: Of course! In fact, my mom used to take me to all the horror flix that were playing at our local drive in. The first film I ever remember seeing was The Exorcist when I was about 4 years old. She took me to see just about everything a mother should NOT take her child to see. And, I thank her from the bottom of my heart for doing it!
Donny: Tell us how Texas Frightmare Weekend came to be?
Loyd: Basically, from the total lack of any kind of genre gatherings in the Dallas area (not to mention just about the entire southern US). There was absolutely nothing for horror fans to go to as an outlet for our love of horror before our first show in February 2006. You would have to fly out to the east or west coast to go to a horror convention.
Donny: Was it difficult trying to gather up so many genre greats into one place?
Loyd: Yes, it's amazingly difficult. But, it's also totally worth it. I think we have the largest "DEAD" reunion that's ever been attempted. If I'm wrong, feel free to let me know!
Donny: This year at TFW you have some killer guests, two of my personal favorites are Cassandra Peterson (Elvira) and George Romero, do you still get butterflies when working with genre legends like them?
Loyd: Sure, these people are legends that we all grew up idolizing. Typically, I'm fine throughout the planning, organizing and all the other details leading up to the event. But, when it's the first day of the show and you're meeting Romero face to face,it's still a mind numbing experience. But, they are regular people just like us. Romero actually asked my permission to take a break last year! I was like, "You are George Romero, you can do ANYTHING you want to!"
Donny: What are some of your favorite horror films?
Loyd: The Exorcist tops my list because it still frightens me to this day. I love all of Romero's films, The Evil Dead series, I like alot of eurotrash (D'Amato is my favorite), From Dusk til Dawn,
Donny: For some of our readers that might not have attended TFW before, how would you describe the CON?
Loyd: It's a massive party! It's time to have fun, forget about the daily hassles that life throws us and time to completely indulge in what we all love so much...HORROR!
Donny: Last year at the con I really enjoyed the VIP party as well as the screenings, are there any other new events that attendees can expect this year that are different from previous year?
Loyd: Something new that we are introducing for 2008 is a live filmmaker commentary. This year, we're screening "Chopping Mall" and turning down the volume so that directo Jim Wynorski and star Kelli Maroney can talk about the film, live before the audience!
Donny: The torture sub-genre is pretty much over and the asian remake trend seems to by slowing down, so as someone who is surrounded by the world of horror what do you think the next big trend in horror cinema?
Loyd: Man, it's hard to say. I would LIKE to say that the next big trend will be that studios will fund filmmakers that have original ideas for movies! Wouldn't that be great??!! Imagine, going to a theater and watching a movie that is not a remake, a rehash, a sequel or an homage? I would like to see something completely original for a change.
